GB2109598A - Controlling electronic devices - Google Patents

Abstract

An electronic device, such as a video tape recorder 23, is set into a desired, but complex mode, such as automatic recording of a desired programme, by manual scanning with an optical scanning instrument 10 of one or more code groups printed on a selection card 19. Respective selection cards 19 have code groups thereon for selecting, for example, mode, channel, day of the week, recording start time (including AM or PM), and recording end time. Code signals provided from the scanning instrument 10 are processed in a data processing circuit 22, such as a microprocessor, and included in the VTR 23 to provide control signals to the VTR 23 in response to information contained in the scanned code groups. Alternatively, a combination of an FM receiver and high fidelity audio recorder can be set into an auto record mode or other complex operating mode by scanning of selection cards 19. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Methods and apparatus for controlling electronic devices This invention relates to methods and apparatus for controlling electronic devices, such as domestic audio or video devices.

Recent video tape recorders (VTRs) designed for domestic use are of high quality and include numerous functions. Such functions can include, for example, the recording of one programme at the same time that a second programme is being viewed, automatic recording at preset times, and special reproduction functions, such as triple-speed reproduction, frame stepping, still reproduction and slowmotion reproduction. These special functions are additional to the usual functions of recording a broadcast television programme off the air and recording directly frorn a video camera.

As the number of VTR functions has been increasing, the difficulty for the user in handling and operating the "TR has also been increasing. For example, if an automatic recording operation is to be performed, various settings, such as presetting the start and end times on a timer, selecting the desired day of the week, and selecting the appropriate channel, involves the actuation of a large number of switches and knobs which must be actuated in a predetermined order.

According to the present invention there is provided a method of controlling an electronic device having a plurality of operating modes by use of a selection card bearing thereon a plurality of code groups, each such group corresponding to a particular one of said modes, and a code scanning instrument, the method comprising: manually scanning a selected one of said code groups with said code scanning instrument to produce a corresponding code word; and automatically selecting the mode corresponding to said code group in response to the produced code word.

According to the present invention there is also provided a method of controlling a receiver capable of being tuned to any of a plurality of channels by use of a channel selection card bearing a plurality of code groups, each such code group corresponding to a particular channel, and a code scanning instrument, the method comprising: manually scanning a selected one of said code groups with said code scanning instrument to produce a corresponding code word formed of alternating marks and spaces; and automatically selecting the channel corresponding to said code group in response to said code word.

According to the present invention there is also provided apparatus for controlling a receiver and recorder in combination, the receiver being capable of being tuned to any of a plurality of broadcast channels and the receiver and recorder in combination having a plurality of modes including a mode for automatically recording a received broadcast programme, the apparatus comprising:: a mode selection card bearing function code groups corresponding respectively to said modes; a channel selection card bearing channel code groups corresponding respectively to said broadcast channels; a start-time selection card bearing code groups corresponding to respective times of the day at which a programme is to begin; an end-time selection card bearing code groups corresponding to respective times of the day at which a programme is to end; a scanning instrument for manually scanning the code groups of the mode selection card, the channel selection card, the start-time selection card, and the end-time selection card and producing electrical representations of the scanned code groups; and automatic code processing means for receiving said electrical representations and providing selecting signals in response thereto to said receiver and recorder in combination to select the mode thereof, to tune said receiver and to preset times for the recorder and receiver to be turned on and off.

The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a sectional elevational view of a code scanning instrument; Figures 2A to 2C illustrate a monochromic code group and corresponding output waveforms of the scanning instrument; Figure 3 is a schematic circuit diagram showing one embodiment of the invention; Figure 4 shows an arrangement of selection cards and a descriptive card for use with the embodiment of Figure 3; Figure 5 shows the code arrangement of a code group pattern; Figures 6A to 6C form a flow chart for a control signal processing routine; Figure 7 iilustrates an arrangement of descriptive cards and selection cards.

Referring first to Figures 1 and 2, embodiments of the invention comprise a plurality of control cards having control code groups printed thereon, each such code group being formed asa monochromatic pattern of bars forming alternate light and dark areas, that is, marks and spaces. To read the printed code groups and provide an electrical representation thereof to a code interpretation circuit, there is provided as a code scanning instrument a wand or mark reader 10 for optimally reading the monochromatic pattern.

The mark reader 10 has a case or barrel 11 approximately the size and shape of a ballpoint pen.

Disposed therewith is a light-emitting diode (LED) 12 which emits light through a collimateing lens 13 which directs the emitted light forwardly to the end of the barrel 11. A phototransistor 14 is also disposed within the barrel 11 and has an optical fibre 1 5 connecting a light sensitive surface thereof to the end of the mark reader 10. A spherical ruby lens 1 6 is provided at the end of the mark reader 1 0, and contacts the optical fibre 1 5. A bundle of lead wires 1 7 extend out of the back of the barrel 11. The lead wires 1 7 provide direct current to power the LED 12, and also carry the output signal from the phototransistor 14.

When the ruby lens 1 6 is in contact with a surface of a paper P, light emitted from the LED 12 passes through the ruby lens 1 6 and is reflected by the paper P as shown by the bent arrow. Then the light so reflected is carried by the optical fibre 1 5 to the phototransistor 14, which supplies an output signal corresponding to the amount of reflected light received thereby.

Thus, for example, if the mark reader 10 is contacted with a monochromatic pattern forming a code group 18, as shown in Figure 2A, and is moved in the direction indicated by the arrow, the phototransistor 14 will supply an output signal V0 as shown in Figure 2B. The output signal V0 is compared with a threshold level VTH and a resulting square wave signal V0 is derived, as shown in Figure 2C. The square wave signal V0 is high whenever the output signal V0 is above the threshold level Vm and is low whenever the output signal V0 is lower than the threshold level VTH.The high portions and low portions of the square wave signal V0 correspond substantially to the marks and spaces of the code group 1 8. Thus, the square wave signal Vc can be supplied to a data processing circuit for discrimination based on the content of data encoded in the code group 1 8.

in an embodiment of the invention, as illustrated in Figure 3, the code groups 1 8 are printed as monochromatic code patterns on one or more control cards 19, and the mark reader 10 scans a selected one of the code groups 1 8 to provide the square wave signal V0 as a control signal to control one or more operational modes of a VTR.

In this embodiment, the square wave signal V0 is supplied to a sensor amplifier 20 and thence to a data discrimination circuit 21 which judges the content of the code group 1 8 being picked up by the mark detector 10. The judged content of the code group 1 8 is supplied from the data discrimination circuit 21 to a data processing circuit 22. In response to the judged content, the data processing circuit 22 provides control signals to a VTR 23 to control the operational mode and tuning thereof, and to preset the turn-on and turn-off times. The data processing circuit 22 also receives status information from the VTR 23. The data discrimination circuit 21 and data processing circuit 22 can easily be formed as an integrated circuit, such as a microprocessor, and can thus be incorporated within the VTR 23.

The VTR 23 contains within it a tuner circuit 24, a tuner control circuit 25, and a system control circuit 26. A television receiver or monitor 27 is coupled to the VTR 23, and an antenna 28 is coupled to the tuner circuit 24.

As a practical matter, the television receiver 27 is not strictly necessary for carrying out operations not involving display of a video picture, as the VTR 23 is itself a combination recorder and tuner. Here, the television receiver 1 7 is necessary only to monitor the contents of a video programme.

Figure 4 illustrates one example of control cards for use in the control of the VTR 23, for example, in recording a desired programme off the air when the user is away from home (that is, an auto-record mode). In this embodiment, five selection cards 30 to 34 and an instruction card 35 are used. Each of the selection cards 30 to 34 has control code groups formed as monochromatic patterns printed thereon, and also has a descriptive legend thereon to indicate the particular control function of the code groups.

The selection card 30 has a code group 36 thereon to initiate the auto-record mode setting operation. The selection card 31 is a channel selection card and has code groups 37 thereon corresponding to respective local channels which can be received. The selection card 32 is a day-of-theweek selection card and includes seven code groups 28 corresponding respectively to the days Sunday to Saturday. The selection card 33 is a start-time selection card and has twelve hour-interval code groups 39, an AM code group, and PM code group, and twelve sub-hour interval code groups 40 (each representing a five minute interval). The selection card 34 is an end-time selection card and has twelve hour-interval code groups 41 and twelve five-minute-interval code groups 42 printed thereon.

The instruction card 35 lists for the user the simple steps to be followed to preset the VTR 23 for automatic recording.

As illustrated in Figure 5, each of the code groups 36 to 42 represents an 8-bit code, the first four bits of which form a classification code, and the last four bits of which form a data code. For example, the code group 36 on the selection card 30 comprises a classification code for specifying a system control operation, and a data code for specifying that the system control operation is the selection of an automatic recording mode. Similarly, the channel select code groups 37 on the selection card 31 comprises a classification code for specifying a channel selection, and a data code for specifying a channel number. The code groups 38 on the day-of-the-week selection card 32 comprise a classification code for specifying a day-of-the-week selection and a data code for specifying a particular day of the week.

The code groups 39 on the start-time selection card 33 each comprise a classification code for selection of a record starting time (including the selection of either morning or afternoon) and a data code for specifying a particular hour (as well as for specifying morning or afternoon). The code groups 40 comprise a classification code for specifying a selection of a particular minute at which automatic recording is to start, and a data code for specifying the minute of the start time.

On the end-time selection card 34, the code groups 41 each comprise a classification code for specifying a selection of the hour at which recording is to be ended, and a data code for specifying the particular hour. Similarly, the code groups 42 each comprise a classification code for selecting the minute of a recording end time, and a data code for specifying the particular minute.

It is possible that the end-time selection card 34 could also include code groups for selecting AM and PM. However, in the preferred embodiments, the end time is assumed to occur less than twelve hours after the start time, and the data processing circuit 22 will automatically select the day of the week, as well as AM or PM, as appropriate, considering the selected start time.

The particular formulation of the code groups 36 to 42 can be described generally as follows: The classification code of the code group 36 can be an arbitrary group of four bits, such as '0000', to indicate that a particular function of the VTR 23 is to be selected. In the usual domestic VTR, in addition to an automatic recording mode, there are also modes for viewing a television programme off the air, playback of a recorded cassette, recording of a television programme, setting a timer, and recording directly from a video camera. To that end, the following data codes can be provided to establish these operating modes of the VTR 23: DATA-CODE OPERATING MODE 0000 Display of a broadcast TV programme 0001 Playback of a recorded cassette 0010 Recording of a broadcast programme 0011 Automatic recording 0100 Setting of Timer 0101 Recording from camera.

Thus, when the code group 36 for specifying an automatic recording operation is scanned by the mark reader 10, the square wave signal V0 provides an initial four bits '0000' and a subsequent four bits '0011'. Thus, the data process circuit 22 receives the following code pattern Classification code 0000 0011 Data code and the data processing circuit 22 is conditioned for carrying out automatic recording.

Similarly, the classification code and the data code of the code groups 37 to 42 can be expressed as follows: CLASSIFICATION FUNCTION CODE BATS CODE FUNCTION 0001 Selection of channel 0000 none (code pattern (36)) 0001 Channel 2 0010 Channel 3 0011 Channel 4 CLASSIFICATION FUNCTION CODE DATA CODE FUNCTION 0010 Selection of day of the week 0000 Sunday (code pattern (38)) 0001 Monday 0010 Tuesday 0011 Selection of record starting 0000 Morning (AM) time (including both morning and afternoon) 0001 Afternoon (PM) (code pattern (39)) 0010 one o'clock 0011 two o'clock 0100 Selection of minutes of 0000 0 min.

record starting (code pattern(40)) 0001 5 min.

0010 10 min.

0011 15 min.

0101 Selection of record ending 0000 Morning (optionai) time (code pattern (41)) 0001 Afternoon (optional) 0010 one o'clock 0011 two o'clock 0110 Selection of minutes of 0000 0 min.

record ending (code pattern (42)) 0001 5 min.

0010 10 min.

0011 15 min.

As indicated above, the data codes for entering the hour and minute of the start time and end time are common to both the selection cards 33 and 34. These time selection code groups are, of course, also used in other modes than the automatic recording mode, for instance, where a tape is to be played for a predetermined length of time, or where an alarm timer is to be set to a particular time.

Generally, once a cassette is loaded into the VTR 23, it is conditioned for automatically recording a desired programme by scanning the mark reader 10 in sequence across appropriate ones of the respective code groups 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41 and 42. The data provided in the square wave signal Vc are then interpreted in the data processing circuit 22 generally as illustrated in Figures 6A to 6G.

Figures 6A to 6G form a flow chart illustrating the operation of the data processing circuit 22. In these figures, the processing of data from the code groups 36 to 42 are respectively indicated by means of a solid line, a single dash line, a double solid line, a dot-and-dash line, a wavy line, a two-dot-anddash line, and a double dash line, respectively. Figure 6A indicates the distribution of the data by identifying the classification codes '0000' to '01 10'. If the classification code is '0000' or '0001', indicating a mode selection or a channel selection, respectively, the processing operation proceeds to the routines illustrated in Figure 6B. If the classification code is '0010', the data processing routine proceeds to the day-of-the-week selection routine in Figure 6C.If the classification code is '0010', the data processing operating proceeds to the hour-of-record-start routine of Figure 6D. If the classification code is '0100', the data processing operation proceeds to the minute-of-record-start routine of Figure 6E. If the classification code is '0101', the data processing operation proceeds to the hour-ofrecord-end routine of Figure SF. Finally, if the classification code is '01 10', the data processing operation proceeds to the minute-of-record-end routine shown in Figure 6G.

If the classification code is '0000', the appropriate mode is selected, as indicated by the final four bits or data code thereof, as indicated by the box 43 of Figure 6B. If the final four bits are '0011', an auto-record flag will be set equal to '1', and an indication of 'auto-record' will appear on a display of the VTR 23.

If the classification code is '0001', indicating a channel selection operation, the channel selection routine as indicated on Figure 6B is followed, according to the steps of boxes 44 to 46.

If the VTR 23 has been set into a 'watch TV' mode, the data processing circuit 22 follows the operation listed in the box 44. The television receiver 27 is turned on, and the tuner circuit 24 is tuned to the desired channel, which is set by the final digits of the channel selecting code group 37.

If the VTR 23 is in a 'TV record' mode, the data processing circuit 22 follows the steps listed in the box 45. The tuner circuit 24 of the VTR 23 is set to the channel designated by the final four digits of the code group 37, and a broadcast signal is recorded. This operation does not affect the status of the television receiver 27.

If the VTR 23 is in an 'auto-record' mode, the operation listed in the box 46 is followed. The channel determined from the final four digits of the code group 37 is stored in a memory, an indication of 'auto record' is displayed, and a flag 'auto record channel' is set to '1'.

If none of the foregoing modes have been selected (indicating that the channel selection is inappropriate), the channel of the tuner circuit 24 is nonetheless changed as indicated by the last four digits of the channel selecting code group.

In the day-of-week selection routine of Figure 6C, if the VTR 23 is in a 'time set' mode, the data processing circuit 22 proceeds to perform a time set operation as illustrated in the box 47. Here the day of the week is set using the final four digits of the code group 38, a 'time set' indication is displayed, and a 'time week' flag is set to '1'.

If an auto record operation has been selected, and the 'auto rec' flag is '1', the data processing circuit 22 proceeds to perform the steps in box 48. Here, the day-of-the-week is set in a timer memory thereof, the selected day of week is displayed, and an 'auto record week' flag is set to '1'.

The setting of hours is illustrated in Figure 6D.

If the VTR 23 is in an 'alarm timer' mode, the hour is set in the timer memory using the last four digits of the time code group 39.

If the 'time week' flag is '1', the hour indicated by the final four bits of the code group 39 is stored with the day of week in the timer memory.

If the 'auto record week' flag is '1', the data processing circuit 22 follows the steps listed in box 49. The auto-record start-time hour, as indicated by the final four bits of the code group 39, together with the bits of the respective 'AM' or 'PM' indication, are stored in the timer memory, the record-start hour is displayed, and a flag 'auto record hour' is set to '1'.

The start minute setting operation is illustrated in Figure 6E.

If the hours of the alarm timer have been set, the final four digits of the code group 40 are used to set the minutes of the alarm timer.

If the day of the week setting and hour setting of the time set operation have been performed, the final four digits of the code group 40 are used to set the minutes for the time set operation.

However, if the flag 'auto record hour' is '1', the data processing circuit 22 follows the operational steps listed in box 50. The minutes data as indicated by the final four digits of code group 40 are stored in the auto record timer memory, the minutes are displayed, and a flag 'auto record start' is set to '1'.

As shown in Figure 6F, when the 'auto record start' flag is '1', the data processing circuit 22 follows the operational steps of box 51 The data indicating the hour for the end of the auto record operation, as indicated by the final four digits of the code group 41, are written into an auto record time memory, an auto record end time is displayed, and an 'auto record end hour' flag is set to '1'.

Finally, as illustrated in Figure 6G, when the 'auto record end hour' flag is '1', the minutes data derived from the final four digits of the code group 42 are stored in the auto record time memory, the end time minutes are displayed, and an 'auto record end' flag is set to '1'.

While in this example the selection cards 30 to 34 are scanned in consecutive order by the mark reader 10, it is possible to arrange the data processing circuit 22 so that after initially scanning a code group 36 of the card 30, the remaining code groups 37 to 42 of the cards 31 to 34 can be scanned in a desultory fashion, that is, in no particular order.

Moreover, while the various code groups 36 to 42 are here illustrated as printed on physically separate cards 30 to 34, it is to be understood that the term 'card' as used herein could encompass a single sheet in which various areas thereon have the code groups 36 to 42 printed thereon. One example of this could be a pressure-sensitive label which could be adhered to one surface of the VTR 23 and which would have panels or sections thereof corresponding to the respective cards 30 to 35.

In addition, these code patterns could be printed in an instruction manual together with descriptive legends or brief sentences indicating the operations to be controlled thereby. The cards could also be formed as a portion of the exterior of the cabinet of the VTR 23.

A second embodiment of this invention is illustrated in Figure 7. Here a sequence of selection and information cards are illustrated for use in controlling an FM radio receiver and an audio cassette recorder, in combination.

Initially, an illustrative or instructive card 60 has descriptive legends thereon indicating the simple steps for a user to follow to establish an automatic record operation.

A tape-type selection card 61 is provided with code groups corresponding to respective bias conditions so that the tape recorder will be automatically set into the appropriate bias condition for the type of tape being used.

Next, a 'Dolby' card, or noise-reduction select card 62 is provided to establish a noise-reduction mode in which pre-emphasis and/or compression -is to be applied to the audio signal prior to recording, while on play-back, a corresponding de-emphasis and/or expansion is to be applied to the audio signal.

Instruction cards 63 to 66 are used for setting the tape to a start position thereof, adjusting the recording level, confirming the nature of the audio input and selecting either line or microphone, and switching the recording amplifier to the tuner of the receiver.

A mode selection card 67 has an FM auto record code group thereon which is scanned by the mark reader 10 to establish an FM automatic recording mode. Then a day-of-the-week card 68 is scanned to select a desired day of week. On a channel select card 69 are printed channel selection code groups provided with legends indicating the associated station call letters, and one of these code groups is scanned to select a desired FM channel.

A start-time select card 70 and an end-time selection card 71 are used in a manner substantially the same as that of the corresponding cards 33 and 34 of the Figure 4 embodiment.

Although in the described embodiments a monochrome bar pattern is used for the code groups, the code pattern could instead occur as a magnetic pattern, a concave-convex pattern, a pattern of punches in a tape, or as other equivalent symbols. Moreover, instead of the mark reader 10, a magnetic head, electromechanical sensor, or other appropriate reading means could be used.

It is also possible that the wires 1 7 of the mark reader 10 could be replaced with means for carrying electromagnetic waves, light, or ultrasonic waves to transmit the signal Vc from the mark reader 10 to the sensor amplifier 20 and the data discrimination circuit 21.

Claims (14)

1. A method of controlling an electronic device having a plurality of operating modes by use of a selection card bearing thereon a plurality of code groups, each such group corresponding to a particular one of said modes, and a code scanning instrument, the method comprising: manually scanning a selected one of said code groups with said code scanning instrument to produce a corresponding code word; and automatically selecting the mode corresponding to said code group in response to the produced code word.

2. A method of controlling a receiver capable of being tuned to any of a plurality of channels by use of a channel selection card bearing a plurality of code groups, each such code group corresponding to a particular channel, and a code scanning instrument, the method comprising: manually scanning a selected one of said code groups with said code scanning instrument to produce a corresponding code word formed of alternating marks and spaces, and automatically selecting the channel corresponding to said code group in response to said code word.

3. A method according to claim 2 wherein there are also provided a start-time selection card and an end-time selection card, each having a plurality of code groups corresponding to particular hours and minutes, and further comprising: manually scanning at least one selected code group of the start-time selection card with said code scanning instrument; automatically presetting a start time at which the receiver is to turn on and be tuned to the selected channel, based upon the selected at least one code group scanned on start-time selection card; manually scanning at least one selected code group of the end-time selection card with said code scanning instrument; and automatically presetting an end time at which the receiver is to turn off after having been turned on at the preset start time, based on the selected at least one code group scanned on the end-time selection card.

4. A method according to claim 3 wherein the plurality of code groups on said start-time and endtime selection cards include twelve code groups corresponding to hour intervals and a plurality of code groups corresponding to fractional hour intervals, and said manual scanning of each of the start-time and end-time selections cards includes; scanning a selected code group corresponding to a desired hour interval; and thereafter scanning a selected code group corresponding to a desired fractional hour interval.

5. A method according to claim 4 wherein said start-time select card further bears a pair of code groups respectively corresponding to AM and PM, and said manually scanning said start-time select card includes, in addition to said scanning of the code group corresponding to the desired hour interval, scanning of a selected one of said pair of code groups.

6. A method according to claim 5 wherein said pair of code groups corresponding to AM and PM is provided only on said start time selection card, and said step of automatically presetting an end time includes automatically selecting AM or PM as appropriate such that the period between turn on and subsequent turn off is less than twelve hours.

7. A method according to claim 4 where said fractional-hour intervals are five-minute intervals.

8. A method according to claim 2 wherein said receiver is associated with recording apparatus, a function card bears a plurality of function code groups corresponding to respective modes of the receiver and associated recording apparatus, including a mode for recording a broadcast programme and a mode for receiving, but not recording, a broadcast programme; and said method further comprises, before the step of manually scanning a selected one of said code groups, manually scanning a selected one of said function code groups with said scanning instrument, and automatically selecting one of said modes in response to said scanning.

9. Apparatus for controlling a receiver and recorder in combination, the receiver being capable of being tuned to any of a plurality of broadcast channels and the receiver and recorder in combination having a plurality of modes including a mode for automatically recording a received broadcast programme, the apparatus comprising:: a mode selection card bearing function code groups corresponding respectively to said modes; a channel selection card bearing channel code groups corresponding respectively to said broadcast channels; a start-time selection card bearing code groups corresponding to respective times of the day at which a programme is to begin; an end-time selection card bearing code groups corresponding to respective times of the day at which a programme is to end; a scanning instrument for manually scanning the code groups of the mode selection card, the channel selection card, the start-time selection card, and the end-time selection card and producing electrical representations of the scanned code groups; and automatic code processing means for receiving said electrical representations and providing selecting signals in response thereto to said receiver and recorder in combination to select the mode thereof, to tune said receiver and to preset times for the recorder and receiver to be turned on and off.

1 0. Apparatus according to claim 9 wherein for receiving broadcasts of high-fidelity music programme, said recorder is selectively settable into tape bias conditions corresponding to respective types of magnetic recording tape, and further comprising a tape-select card bearing code groups corresponding to the respective bias conditions, with said automatic code processing means selecting the desired tape bias condition in response to scanning of the associated code group by said scanning instrument.

11. Apparatus according to claim 10 further comprising for selectively setting said recorder into a noise-reduction mode wherein pre-emphasis and/or compression is carried out on the audio signal prior to recording, and upon playback a corresponding de-emphasis and/or expansion is carried out, a noisereduction selection card bearing at least one code group corresponding to said noise-reduction mode, with said automatic code processing means selecting the noise-reduction mode in response to scanning of said associated code group by said scanning instrument.

12. Apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said receiver and recorder in combination form a video tape recorder having a plurality of operating modes including a record mode and a stop mode and said automatic processing means is operative, in response to the scanning of selected code groups on said selection cards, to establish said record mode at said preset start time to record a program on a selection one of said broadcast channels, and thereafter to establish said stop mode at said preset end time.

1 3. Apparatus according to claim 9 wherein each said code group is formed as a monochrome pattern of bars and spaces between said bars, with the width of said bars and spaces therebetween being varied in accordance with the information contained in said code group.

14. Apparatus according to claim 1 3 wherein said scanning instrument is formed as a wand having a hollow barrel, a light-emitting element within said barrel, a lens at one end of said barrel to transmit light from said light-emitting device and to conduct light reflected by said monochrome pattern, a light sensor within said barrel to sense the level of reflected light conducted by said lens, light-conducting means carrying the reflected light to said sensor, and coupling means coupling said sensor to said automatic code processing means.

1 5. Apparatus according to claim 14 wherein said lens includes a spherical ruby, and said light conducting means includes an optical fibre coupling said spherical ruby and said light sensor.

1 6. Apparatus according to claim 9 wherein each said code group is formed of a first plurality of bits followed by a second plurality of bits, the first such plurality forming a classification code to identify the appropriate one of mode selection, channel selection, start-time selection, and end-time selection, and the second said plurality forming a selection code corresponding to the selected one of said modes, said channels, said times at which the programme is to start, and said times at which the programme is to end, respectively.

1 7. A method of controlling an electronic device, the method being substantially as any one of the embodiments or modified embodiments hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 8. Apparatus for controlling an electronic device, the apparatus being substantially as any one of the embodiments or modified embodiments hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.